St. Lawrence County police agencies will participate in a special holiday enforcement effort to crack down on impaired driving July 3 to 7.

Fourth of July Weekend is historically a deadly period for impaired driving. New York State Police, St. Lawrence County Sheriff and municipal law enforcement agencies across the state will be out in an effort to reduce the number of alcohol related injuries and deaths.

During this time period, law enforcement will vigorously enforce laws related to driving while impaired with special emphasis on driving impaired either by alcohol or drugs.

While it is believed STOP-DWI efforts across New York have led to significant reductions in the numbers of alcohol and drug related fatalities, still too many lives are being lost because of crashes caused by drunk or impaired drivers. Highly visible, highly publicized efforts like the STOP-DWI Crackdown Campaign aim to further reduce the incidence of drunk and impaired driving.

A study conducted by the Institute for Traffic Safety Management and Research (www.itsmr.org) in Albany found that the involvement of drugs is a serious issue in fatal crashes, with one out of six fatalities (16 percent) being drug-related. The number of drivers ticketed for drug-impaired driving rose 20 percent between 2007 and 2011, while the number of drivers ticketed for alcohol-impaired driving dropped 15 percent.

“There will be no warnings,” said Michele James of St. Lawrence County STOP-DWI. “Our message is simple—Don’t drink or drug and drive. Have a plan to get home safely. Don’t Drive, Get a Ride. Violators will lose their licenses, pay increased insurance rates, fines, surcharges and DMV fees, and may have an ignition interlock device installed in their vehicle. Driving impaired is not worth it.”

All drinking driving fines collected from convicted drunk drivers fund the St. Lawrence County STOP-DWI Program.